Former Blues boss George Burley believes continuity is the key to success in the Championship. Whilst the likes of Fulham are paying huge fees for new players, Burley says the Town squad will benefit from most of them having played together last season and manager Mick McCarthy signing a new three-year deal.

The Cottagers, relegated from the Premier League along with Norwich City and Cardiff, completed the £11 million signing of one-time Town target McCormack from Leeds United yesterday and it comes as no surprise to Burley that they are splashing the cash.

“Clubs that come down from the Premier League it’s such a big loss for them that they’re going to gamble to try and get back,” he said.

“The Championship, for me, has always been about continuity. It’s a great bonus for everybody at Ipswich that Mick’s signed a longer contract.

“I’m sure that all the players will be going into the season with that in mind and are used to Mick and his methods and that will help during the season coming.

“Continuity and the faith in the players that Mick showed last season will stand them in good stead. There’s not going to be too many changes, he might bring one or two more in, but he’s got a good squad, an experienced squad.

“They showed that they were almost good enough last season and I think that experience will do them good enough last season and I think that experience will help them this season.”

The 58-year-old former Scotland manager says Town will also be boosted by David McGoldrick’s return from the knee injury which curtailed his 2013/14: “He was a big miss. I gave David his debut when I was at Southampton and he’s a quality player and you need these players fit. Fingers crossed he will be.

“I’ve seen him up the gym once or twice in the summer and hopefully he’ll be there to show what a good player he is come the start of the season.”

Having sold Aaron Cresswell to West Ham for an initial £3.75 million - potentially rising to £7 million with top-ups - McCarthy will use that cash to strengthen his wider squad in much the same manner as Burley did on an annual basis during his time as Blues manager.

“We sold players like Alex Mathie, Mauricio Taricco, Kieron Dyer and Ian Marshall each year to keep going, but it doesn’t always weaken you because you’ve got the group anyway and that group will be stronger,” he said.

“One goes out, but you don’t lose too much. It’s not all about spending money, it’s about getting the right people in.”

Burley’s former Town team-mate John Wark expects McCarthy to make a handful of further additions to his squad, having recruited Alex Henshall, Cameron Stewart and Jonathan Parr and extended Stephen Hunt’s time at Portman Road already this summer.

“I still think we need two or three players,” Wark said. “I think the top six should be where we’re aiming for.

“We definitely need two or three players and hopefully Mick can get some more money and do the business.

“I still think we need somebody in midfield who can get goals. We’ve not had anyone like that for a long time, and maybe they’ll be looking for a goalkeeper. They’re the two positions I’d be looking at.”

Photo: Action Images

cooper4england added 07:37 - Jul 9 Can't we just clone warky? We send all this money on players, wages and an academy when we could just spend it on a laboratory and genetic engineering! Legends
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Mark added 07:57 - Jul 9 Burley talks a lot of sense here and is absolutely right. It's all very positive, with the little reminder at the end that the lack of goals from midfield are a weakness. Stewart has scored 4 goals in 97 game career, although he was shunted around on loan and is only young so perhaps can add some goals for us. A creative midfielder who can find the net himself has to be a priority, although I know those sort of players are not easy to get.

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Popeye added 09:46 - Jul 9 Town need to spend Cresswell cash on lower league players that they can develop rather overpaid has beens from the premier league. Cresswellm himself is a prime example of that and i'm sure there must be other players out there with the same potential as him.
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strikalite added 10:47 - Jul 9 ^Agree Popeye, of course the only problem with that is that you can never be sure if they'll cut it at this level, but if they have the right attitude and have good ability with PACE then you need to step in quickly because they're hard to find.. I want players here who have genuine big smiles on their faces when they're holding that pen to sign....or at least they consider this Club to be a step up for them!

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Michael11 added 11:06 - Jul 9 It's nice to hear what club legends have to say. I agree that our squad will already know each other inside out, whereas other teams will have virtually a whole new team. I think John Wark's certainly right about needing a goal scoring midfielder and a number 1 goalkeeper. I'd also like to see a pacey right winger as Anderson's not good enough to have that position on his own.

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dawoolah added 13:18 - Jul 9 £11Million for Ross McCormack is ridiculous! As a comparison QPR paid £4Million for Charlie Austin who (in my opinion) is a similar but far more consistent player. I'm hoping Mick can unearth a lowerleague gem for a tenth of the price. A goal scoring midfielder as Michael11 says.
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BlueLight added 15:32 - Jul 9 We will need to spend wisely. Luckily we have a manager who will do just that. I am sure Mick will sign a few lower league gems. This is going to be a season to remember. Bring it on.
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blueboy1981 added 18:06 - Jul 9 Wise words GB - a legend in his own right.
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tractorboy12341234 added 20:11 - Jul 9 It will be interesting to see whether Tunnicliffe becomes available if Fulham continue to make more signings.
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bluemikey100 added 08:49 - Jul 10 anyone got any names for our midfield goalscorer apart from Wark lol that we should sign
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Cheshire_Blue added 11:03 - Jul 12 Tunnicliffe is not up to it. Just look at what he has achieved since leaving Town. At best, he is a less than average Championship player and when with us we were a less than average Championship team.
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